Hospitalization for community-acquired, rotavirus-associated diarrhea - A prospective, longitudinal, population-based study during the seasonal outbreak
El. Ford-jones et al., Hospitalization for community-acquired, rotavirus-associated diarrhea - A prospective, longitudinal, population-based study during the seasonal outbreak, ARCH PED AD, 154(6), 2000, pp. 578-585
Objectives: To determine the age-specific hospitalization rate for rotaviru
s-associated diarrhea in Canadian children during the seasonal outbreak, an
d to characterize children and their households, for assessment of the need
for a rotavirus vaccine.
Design: Prospective multisite cohort study.
Settings and Participants: Children with an admission diagnosis of diarrhea
admitted to 18 hospitals serving 132 study census tracts of a major urban
region, from November 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998. Prospective centraliz
ed testing of stools was performed, research nurses administered a follow-u
p questionnaire to parents.
Main Outcome Measure: Age-specific diarrhea and rortavirus-associated hospi
talization rates.
Results: Of 224160 children younger than 5 years, the diarrhea hospitalizat
ion rate was 4.8 in 1000 (n=1086) during the seasonal epidemic. Based on te
sting of 65% of the hospitalized children, the rota virus-associated diarrh
ea hospitalization rate was 1.3 in 1000; the cumulative incidence to 5 year
s of age was 1 in 160. Rotavirus-associated diarrhea was reported in 37% of
the 1001 hospitalized children undergoing testing inside and outside of th
e census tracts; in children aged 6 to 35 months, this hose to more than 70
% during April and May. Ages of children with rotavirus-associated diarrhea
were 0 to 2 months (2%), 3 to 5 months (5%), 6 to 23 months (60%), 24 to 3
5 months (15%), and 36 months or older (19%). Of children aged 0 to 5 and 6
to 11 months, 4 (19%) of 21 and 6 (10%) of 59, respectively, had been born
prematurely; 20 (24%) of 83 younger than 1 year were breastfed at the time
of illness. Of children younger than 36 months, 77% were cared for in thei
r homes; 13%, in family day care homes; and 8%, in child care centers. The
mean (+/- SD) duration of rotavirus hospitalization based on hospital recor
ds and parental questioning was 2.4+/-1.7 and 3.1+/-1.6 days, respectively;
it was significantly longer (P less than or equal to.001) in children with
an underlying medical condition. One child required intensive care unit ho
spitalization. Diarrhea occurred concurrently in 74% of household contacts
younger than 3 years; 38%, aged 3 to 18 years; and 29%, older than 18 years
. Seventy-six percent of parents were married. Household incomes in Canadia
n dollars in the 81% reporting were less than $20 000 in 20%, $20 000 to $6
0 000 in 44%, and greater than $60 000 in 36%. Ethnicity was reported as 53
% white, 15% black, 10% Asian, 12% East Indian, and 11% other.
Conclusions: Based on testing of 65% of children with diarrhea, rotavirus r
esulted in hospitalization in a minimum of 1 in 160 children by 5 years of
age during the seasonal outbreak. Had 100% of young children with diarrhea
undergone testing, the extrapolated cumulative incidence of rotavirus-assoc
iated diarrhea by 5 years of age may have been 1 in 106.